ICC congratulates Afghanistan and the Windies for qualifying for CWC 2019

March 26 (CRICKETNMORE) - ICC Chief Executive David Richardson has congratulated Afghanistan and the Windies for making it through to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and also thanked Zimbabwe Cricket, their volunteers and the ICC staff for putting together a successful ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018, which concluded in Harare on Sunday.

Afghanistan and the Windies qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, to be played from 30 May to 14 July in England and Wales, after finishing as the top two sides after 33 matches in the 10-team qualifying tournament. In the 34th and final match of the tournament on Sunday, Afghanistan beat the West Indies by seven wickets with a competent display in the field and with the bat to lift the prestigious silverware.

“On behalf of the ICC, I want to congratulate Afghanistan for their efforts in recovering from a slow start to take this prestigious title and, both them and the West Indies for qualifying for the ICC Cricket Word Cup 2019. We look forward to welcoming them along with the eight top-ranked ODI teams in England and Wales for what I’m sure will be highly competitive event,” said Mr Richardson, who attended Sunday’s final in Harare.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier has seen some highly competitive and enthralling cricket with all sides producing some fine performances in their quest to qualify for the World Cup.

“In congratulating the two successful sides, we also commiserate with those which came so close. Defending champions Scotland came agonisingly close to qualifying for the World Cup, until the heavens opened, while Zimbabwe and Ireland were only one win away from a successful campaign.

“Thank you to all of the teams who have competed and contributed to such an intense and exciting event.”